Phillies Nation

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Jimmy Rollins. Ryan Madson. Roy Oswalt. Brad Lidge. A Cole Hamels extension. You’ll hear about these names all through the winter.

On Monday, Oswalt and Lidge were let out of their options. Decisions on Rollins and Madson will be coming in the next couple of months. A Cole Hamels contract extension (he’s in his final arbitration eligible year after finishing out a three-year deal) seems imminent.

So, let’s get down to business. Here is a look at the payroll obligations for the Phillies in 2012, and what other players will likely receive. We’ll try and fill out the roster to see what it looks like next year.

Blue: money that the Phillies owe in 2012
Red: educated guess as to how much player will earn in 2012 (arbitration or otherwise)

Infield:

-Ryan Howard: $20MM
-Chase Utley: $15.286MM
-Placido Polanco: $6.417MM
-Carlos Ruiz: $3.7 MM
-Michael Martinez: $425K

$45.828MM

Continue reading Phillies 2012 Roster and Payroll Projections

Is Aramis Ramirez an option for the Phillies? PHOTO AP

Those pining for a hard-hitting, run-producing third baseman, you’re day should be a little brighter. Aramis Ramirez declined his part of the mutual option with the Chicago Cubs for 2012, meaning he will now become a free agent. By doing so, he has forfeited a $2 million buyout.

That matters not, because Ramirez is in for a payday as the only real power threat in free agency at the hot corner. The Phillies could very well be in the market for Ramirez, as the front office made it known that, while Placido Polanco could be in their plans, nothing is out of the question.

With the Cubs in 2011, Ramirez hit .306 with 26 home runs and 93 runs batted in. However, in 2012 he’ll be 34 years old. That doesn’t make the Phillies any younger and could present more aging issues down the road; the same issues the team is trying to combat.

Either way, look for the Phillies to be involved, although to what extent remains to be seen.

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Marco Scutaro is sticking with the Boston Red Sox. They exercised their $6 million team option on the veteran shortstop on Sunday. Scutaro, 36, was looking like one of the better names on the free agent market at that position, but now makes it a little thinner.

His name had been thrown around by some as a possible replacement should Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies part ways, but that’s certainly off the table now.

This just reiterates the idea that the Phillies will push hard for Rollins.

The Boston Red Sox are set to interview Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin as well as Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum for their vacant managerial position this week, according to WEEI radio in Boston.

Mackanin and Sveum will be the first two candidates interviewed by Boston to replace Terry Francona, whose contract was not renewed after the teams’ tremendous collapse led to the Red Sox missing the playoffs.

The 60-year-old Mackanin previously managed the Pirates and Reds in an interim capacity and managed several minor league clubs. Mackanin played in the big leagues with the Rangers, Expos, Phillies and Twins.

Mackanin has served as the Phillies’ bench coach, under manager Charlie Manuel, for the past two seasons.

Continue reading Mackanin to Interview For Boston Managerial Job

The 2011 Phillies Nation Player Reviews continue today, with David Herndon…

Remember this?

…And I think he just gave up another walk, followed by a home run, causing a profanity-laced meltdown in the infield. His mind is like Mr. Potato Head (or Señor Cara de Papa if you are speaking to Carlos Ruiz) when he gets into trouble, because, think about it–what happens when Mr. Potato Head loses a fight? That’s right, limbs and/or facial parts go flying into the air, much like David Herndon‘s thoughts when he loses a battle to a hitter or five.

However, he actually had a pretty good year. His 3.32 ERA was good for fourth among Phillies relievers with at least ten innings pitched, and, while it may have seemed that he was terrible all year, he actually had a higher WPA–Win Probability Added, or in other words a measure of what actually happened and how much a player helped or hurt his team–than three other pitchers with the same qualifiers. Granted, his WPA was still negative (-0.41), and those three players included one who is no longer a Phillie (J.C. Romero, -0.54), a rookie (Michael Schwimer, -0.57), and KYLE KENDRICK (-0.67). Continue reading About That Herndon Guy…

Game 7: Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals

Starters: Matt Harrison vs. Chris Carpenter

Time: 8:05, Busch Stadium, St. Louis
Weather: 56, Showers

Some fans of Phillies Nation asked us to give them a spot to react to tonight’s game, so here it is. A World Series thread.

Don't do it, Ruben. You'll thank me later.

This is an argument I’ve been making for close to a year, and while I’ve hinted at it, in both my post on Domonic Brown’s future and in my season review of Antonio Bastardo, but the Phillies have a need that might run counter to the big-splash mentality by which Ruben Amaro has seemed to run this team since taking over. With Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson entering free agency, the Phillies find themselves without a proven closer heading into the offseason. This presents a rather different conundrum for the team than does Jimmy Rollins‘ impending free agency or even Roy Oswalt‘s. This free agent class is unbelievably weak at shortstop and in starting pitching, which are, of course, two areas where many teams with designs on a playoff berth in 2012 have great need.

For shortstops, it’s Jose Reyes, then Rollins, then Marco Scutaro and Alex Gonzalez. That’s it. Almost every other free agent shortstop is either a replacement-level player or close to it, and if you’re going to put a bad player on the field, better to get that lack of production from a cheap source, such as Wilson Valdez , than to pay a premium to get the same production from a bigger name, say, Yuniesky Betancourt. For pitchers, CC Sabathia seems like he’ll opt out of his contract and re-sign with the Yankees, which leaves Oswalt–whose status for 2012 is still not certain–along with C.J. Wilson, Yu Darvish, and a littany of former stars (Aaron Harang, Brandon Webb, Jeff Francis, and others) to whom time and chance have been so unkind that they resemble their former selves only in appearance. Francis and Webb, who faced off in Game 1 of the 2007 NLCS, are no more ace starters than the sunken wreckage of the U.S.S. Arizona is a functioning ship of the line. That message seems to have reached the Phillies’ front office clearly.

However, this free agent class features a surfeit of proven closers. Even if the Phillies don’t re-sign Madson, they have Jose Valverde, Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell, Frank Francisco…if the Phillies want to splash big money to buy someone who’s racked up impressive save totals in recent years, they certainly won’t lack the opportunity.

But spending big money on a relief pitcher is a sucker’s bet, and the Phillies, who tend to be very hit (Roy Halladay, Chase Utley) or miss (Ryan Howard, Brad Lidge, Placido Polanco, depending on who you ask) with their long-term contracts would be extremely foolhardy to sign any relief pitcher to a multi-year deal.

Continue reading Dr. Strangeglove: On Constructing a Bullpen

The Phillies have provided the following medical updates:

PHOTO AP

·         First baseman Ryan Howard (ruptured left Achilles) had his stitches removed on October 25 and has progressed to partial weight bearing.  He has begun a rehabilitation program in Philadelphia.

·         Third baseman Placido Polanco (sports hernia) had a follow-up exam with Dr. William Meyers on October 26 and is continuing his rehabilitation in Miami.

·         Left-hander Cole Hamels had stitches removed from his left elbow (loose bodies) on October 27 and is continuing his rehabilitation program in Philadelphia.  He had a follow-up exam for his hernia surgery today with Dr. Ernest Rosato and has been cleared to progress back to his off-season program as tolerated.

·         Right fielder Hunter Pence (sports hernia) continues his rehabilitation program in Philadelphia.  He will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Meyers next week.

·         Right-hander Jose Contreras (right forearm strain) was seen by Dr. Michael Ciccotti on October 20 and will begin isometric forearm strengthening next week.  He is on track to progress to regular strengthening in the beginning of December and initiate throwing at the beginning of January.

·         Ross Gload (hip) was evaluated by Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York on October 18.  Dr. Kelly did not feel an arthroscopic procedure was warranted at this time.  Gload was set up with an off-season rehabilitation program.

Here is the first batch of uploaded Halloween photos. There’s still time to upload yours, use the form below the photos.

Some fans of Phillies Nation asked us to give them a spot to react to tonight’s game, so here it is. A World Series thread.

Game 6: Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals

Starters: Colby Lewis vs. Jaime Garcia

Time: 8:05, Busch Stadium, St. Louis
Weather: 56, Showers

Halloween is almost upon us, so we’re asking you to upload any Phillies Halloween photos you might have. Perhaps you carved a pumpkin like this one…or have a costume of your favorite player…whatever it is, send it on in. We’ll collect them all and create a photo gallery sure to scare even the ugliest Mets fan.